This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 15 July 2022.
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Work at the office three times a week is the ‘new normal’ Moneyweb reports that Discovery Insure’s new Work From Home Index, developed because of the Covid-19 lockdowns, shows that people are only physically travelling to work three out of five days a week. There has been steady growth in the percentage of clients travelling to work since restrictions eased after the initial hard lockdown. But overall, the insurer’s clients are travelling to work less often, and this has peaked at about 80% of the normal level. Among the patterns that the insurer uncovered from its telematics data were that a large percentage of Discovery Insure clients were not going into ‘work’ consistently on the same days each week. This points to a changed pattern of expectations whereby more workers are enjoying increased levels of flexibility. The proportion of people going into ‘work’ three or more days in a week is 10% less than pre-Covid levels. The proportion of people going into ‘work’ every day during the week is 20% less than pre-Covid levels. The most popular days for traveling to work appear to be Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The least favoured day is a Friday, with around 20% fewer trips recorded on that day. While the data was not specifically ring-fenced to white-collar/office workers, employees are unable to perform their roles remotely in most so-called blue-collar jobs. Discovery Insure CEO Anton Ossip commented: “It is also interesting to see how external factors such as load shedding and fuel price increases will likely have an impact here, with load shedding making it difficult for some to work from home, while on the other hand fuel price increases make it more expensive to travel to work. Regardless, there is definitely a strong sense of people returning to a ‘pre-Covid normal’.” Large banks and insurers have rapidly adopted a hybrid work model, with some stating that only 40% of staff would be expected on campus (at head offices) on any given day. Anecdotally, the large legal, audit and professional services firms have swung toward remote work, with a minority of staff expected in daily. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Moneyweb. Lees ook, SA’ners ry deesdae op dié dae werk toe, by Maroela Media Load shedding sees more people back at the office instead of working from home Business Report writes that as load shedding continues to disrupt workforce productivity, returning to the office may be becoming an attractive prospect. According to Galetti Corporate Real Estate CEO John Jack, many companies have invested in back-up power solutions such as generators, inverters and renewable energy sources to ensure continued operations when Eskom load shedding is in force. “The fact is that it is exceptionally difficult to work from home during load shedding hours, and many businesses with hybrid workplace policies are struggling to maintain productivity as a result,” noted Jack. Meanwhile, Engelbert Binedel, COO of Growthpoint Properties, reported that load shedding had already resulted in a “significant pick-up” in people working from office buildings in order to get the power they needed to be able to function and do their work. Jack said both corporate and small business productivity had been affected by the load shedding because of failing internet connections, missed deadlines as employees weren’t able to complete tasks on time, and disruptions to supply chains from the reduced output of goods manufactured. “Staff are having to redo work owing to lost data and are generally forced to take a longer period to complete their work,” he said. Covid-19 prompted a shift in the modern work environment, allowing employees to work from home or enjoy flexible hybrid work models. This resulted in the worsening of a significantly oversupplied office property market in SA. Jack argued that an increased employee reliance on company office space for continued power supply would encourage many companies to renew their leases and even take out more floor space to accommodate the return of their staff to the workplace. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Edward West at Business Report
Ramaphosa backs down from ‘Eskom 2.0’ idea EWN reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has backed down on his idea that a second state-owned power generator to rival embattled Eskom is a good idea. This after he and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe made public comments about the need for a second power utility to take the pressure off Eskom. Ramaphosa planted the idea when he addressed delegates at the SA Communist Party (SACP) Congress on Thursday. Mantashe affirmed the proposition of what has now been dubbed ‘Eskom 2.0’. As South Africans expressed varied views about the potential establishment of a second power utility, the president apparently decided on a more cautious approach. While he maintained that Eskom’s monopoly of the energy sector was a risk, he later said Eskom took first priority. The President was speaking during an oversight visit to the Tutuka Power Station in Mpumalanga on Saturday and stated: "What we now need to do is to reposition Eskom and make sure that we generate enough energy for the country." Ramaphosa also assured the nation that the government was looking at ways to tackle load shedding. Frustrated South Africans have faced uninterrupted power cuts that first became a reality almost 15 years ago for weeks this winter. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nokukhanya Mntambo at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Unisa’s top brass to get bodyguards City Press reports that the top brass at Unisa are set to get bodyguards amid allegations of mounting threats against them made on social media. A process was set in motion last month to procure protection services for several executive managers, including principal and vice-chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula. An insider, however, advised last week that the procurement of bodyguards, which was initiated last month, had not taken place due to delays in supply chain management. The individual claimed: “It’s the [workers’ union] Nehawu people who’re causing the delays in supply chain management. Now must we wait for Unisa to protect us?” However, Unisa’s Nehawu (National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union) branch chairperson, Lunathi Hontoti, denied the allegation and indicated: “Nehawu stopped participating in tenders in 2018 because it became difficult to question processes and we elected to forfeit our seat on the tender committee.” Nehawu and Unisa have been at loggerheads since March. The disagreement is over salary increases, and the suspension and dismissal of five Nehawu members who were allegedly at the centre of a strike. In an e-mail dated 17 June and addressed to affected managers, the executive director for protection services, Major General Masego Botsheleng, said the implementation of personal protection for members of management was urgent and could not be postponed. In a second e-mail dated 21 June and addressed to the management committee and others, Botsheleng wrote that there was a critical risk to executives that needed to be addressed by all means, but specifically by involving personal protection services. This, she explained, was the result of the protracted strike by Nehawu and recent threats of violence against certain individuals, including some executive members of management. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Msindisi Fengu at City Press (subscriber access only). Read too, Unisa’s descent into chaos, at City Press (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Standard Bank does spectacular U-turn on mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations and to re-hire unvaccinated staff it fired BL Premium reports that Standard Bank wants to re-hire staff it fired for refusing to comply with its mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy, which it repealed last week after union threats to challenge the policy in court. The bank has also stopped all workplace incapacity hearings for unvaccinated staff, who were now being welcomed back to work, the bank said in a statement on Friday. Unvaccinated employees are also no longer required to undergo PCR or rapid antigen tests before they can access Standard Bank premises. Standard Bank SA CEO Lungisa Fuzile said: “Unfortunately there are a number of unvaccinated employees that we parted company with, after they declined the alternative of testing which had been offered to them. Following the withdrawal of the [mandatory vaccination] policy, we are engaging with these colleagues to explore re-employment opportunities, as we feel strongly that this is the right thing to do.” Standard Bank withdrew its mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy last Monday, just three days after finance union Sasbo vowed to fight the policy after at least 40 of its members were dismissed by the bank for non-compliance. A day after Standard Bank scrapped its mandatory vaccination policy, Cosatu announced that it too would be challenging mandatory Covid-19 vaccination at a “national, policy level”. Sasbo’s Modime Joe Kokela said the union would be engaging with the bank on the terms of re-employment for its affected members. Standard Bank’s rapid about-turn on vaccines is likely to pile pressure on other firms that have dismissed workers for refusing to comply with these policies. Old Mutual has sacked at least 49 Sasbo members for refusing both Covid-19 vaccination and the option to undergo regular testing for the virus. Insurance group Discovery is one of the few listed firms that continues to impose a mandatory vaccination policy though the firm told Business Day this past week it had not dismissed anyone for non-compliance as 98% of its staff are vaccinated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Garth Theunissen at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). See too, Standard Bank withdraws mandatory vaccination policy, at Fin24. En ook, Standard Bank gee toe aan eis oor werknemers, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
We have border posts under control during strike, claims SARS Fin24 reports that the SA Revenue Service (SARS) has put "contingency measures" in place to ensure there is as little disruption as possible at land border posts during its ongoing wage strike. Strike action by the Public Servants Association (PSA) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) last week forced the tax agency to close 18 branches. Unions are demanding a 7% increase in wages. But while SARS has suggested channelling its savings from 2021 towards wages, the unions have rejected that offer, saying this would only amount to a 1.39% increase. Analysts had predicted that pressure on SA’s already congested border posts – coupled with a precedent set at Eskom, where workers secured a 7% increase after an unprotected strike – would force SARS to capitulate. But Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has repeatedly said that it would not be possible to offer a higher increase without an additional budget provision. On Friday evening, SARS said it "would like to assure traders and travellers that it has put various contingency measures in place at land border posts to ensure minimal disruption during the current industrial action at SARS". It committed to ensuring that throughout the strike, the processing of declarations would continue as normal, as would physical inspections of goods, with inspection finalisation being centralised and managed on a 24-hour cycle. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Marelise van der Merwe at Fin24. Lees ook, Doeane aan grens ‘nie ontwrig deur SAID staking’, by Maroela Media Economists concerned that more wage strikes are afoot Business Times reports that as wage negotiation season gathers momentum, economists are warning of increasingly unstable labour relations and more strikes as workers demand higher pay to cope with the soaring cost of living. Economists say rampant fuel and food inflation are the biggest concerns for the lowest-paid workers because these items account for the biggest portion of their costs. Last week, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) confirmed it was demanding a 20% pay rise in the automotive sector. This followed Eskom recently agreeing to a 7% increase for most of its workers. The Public Servants Association is also undertaking industrial action at the SA Revenue Service, which has tabled a 1.39% offer. The PSA is instead demanding 11.5%. The union is also in dispute in separate public-sector wage talks, demanding a 10% increase after rejecting the government’s 2% offer. Azar Jammine of Econometrix expects to “see more strike action” in SA, saying wage negotiations in the public sector posed the “biggest challenge of all” since they have “enormous implications for how investors and ratings agencies see us”. He believes the 20% increase Numsa is demanding in the automotive sector is extreme and probably a tactical starting point in negotiations. Stanlib’s Kevin Lings also expects to see more strikes because “it does feel like the unions and companies are going to be quite far away from each other as a starting point”. He noted that SA had a “very desperate labour market” and was “1.4-million jobs below where we were before Covid”. Those still working often subsidised household members who have been retrenched, further fuelling the demand for higher wages. Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola is predicting more strikes, saying there is “fertile ground” for unrest in a country with such high levels of inequality. Connie Mulder, head of the Solidarity Research Institute, said while the union would make sure its members wouldn’t fall behind in wage terms, it didn’t believe in making extreme demands that would severely affect employers also struggling to recover from the pandemic. Mulder believes there “should be a middle ground where we can find one another”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nick Wilson at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Sibanye wants to create ‘new positive narrative’ around 2012 Marikana massacre BL Premium reports that precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater has embarked on a variety of socioeconomic development projects at its platinum operations around Marikana, where 44 people were killed 10 years ago, in an effort aimed at changing the narrative around the massacre. Head of sustainability Themba Nkosi explained: “What we are trying to do as Sibanye is to try and impact the narrative positively. Marikana was tragic. We want to create a new narrative around Marikana, mindful that we will never erase what happened.” On 16 August 2012 police officers gunned down 34 protesting Lonmin mineworkers who were demanding better wages and living conditions. Another 10 people, including security guards, were killed in the preceding week. In a move aimed at showing progress in addressing socioeconomic challenges around its Marikana operations since taking over Lonmin in 2019, Sibanye took journalists on a media tour on Thursday. After acquiring Lonmin, Sibanye set up the 1608 Memorial Trust, which supports 139 beneficiaries — those who were and continue to be affected by the Marikana massacre. The beneficiaries have received contributions totalling R64.5m from the trust to date. Of the 16 widows’ homes the trust wants to build, eight have been finalised while the rest are being built in the Eastern Cape and elsewhere. The group is also providing legal support for widows who have not received any compensation from the state with a view to pursuing compensation. A number of other initiatives were highlighted by the company. But, Jeff Mphahlele of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) claimed that Sibanye was “rushing everything without consulting the union”. He stated: “What they are doing is to rush this 10th year anniversary thing to say: ‘Look, this is what we have done’. They are not doing enough, they are rushing [these projects] and there is a lot of confusion there.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Sibanye continues to make reparations at Marikana, at Mining Weekly Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Numsa deputy president Ntlokotse says her suspension by the union was a bid to silence her on 3SixtyLife scandal Fin24 reports that according to suspended National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) second deputy president Ruth Ntlokotse, the union's leadership was targeting her for pursuing office at Numsa's home federation Saftu and demanding accountability for the management of members' funds. The conflict at Numsa comes ahead of the union's elective conference, set to take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre later in July. On Wednesday, Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim advised that Ntlokotse had been suspended for acting outside of the national office bearers' collective. He denied suggestions that Ntlokotse was being targeted for not toeing his line in the union. In May, Ntlokotse contested for national leadership at the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) and was successfully elected as the federation's president. Ntlokotse will now serve alongside Saftu secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi, who is at odds with Jim over whether the federation should align itself with a political party or establish a party to contest political power. Vavi believes Saftu should not sacrifice its independence. Also at issue is the provisional curatorship storm around 3Sixty Life, a subsidiary of the Numsa Investment Company. Jim went to court to halt the curatorship over governance challenges last year, but his detractors said he did this with no mandate from the union. Speaking during a recent interview, Ntlokotse said Numsa's special committee suspended her because she chose to contest the position of Saftu president against the union's wishes. She also said she was being targeted for demanding accountability regarding the non-payment of claims by 3Sixty Life to members. Ntlokotse said she had received death threats and harassment since raising her concerns about 3Sixty Life. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24 (subscriber access only)
Numsa marches to public enterprises department to demand that Denel pays outstanding salaries Fin24 reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) marched to the offices of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) in Pretoria on Friday, demanding that it re-capitalise state-owned arms manufacturer Denel so that salaries could be paid to employees. Denel has consistently struggled to pay salaries on time because of its financial challenges. Unions have had to get court orders to compel the entity to pay salaries. Numsa marched to the DPE on Friday morning and handed over a memorandum of demands. "Since lockdown was implemented, our members at Denel Pretoria Metal Pressings have experienced unending misery by officials in the Department of Public Enterprises. Denel is a viable business, but it is being deliberately collapsed. It urgently needs to be re-capitalised so that it can survive," the memorandum asserted. It added that DPE Minister Pravin Gordhan "seems determined to collapse this entity, just like South African Airways (SAA), SA Express, and Eskom". Numsa said it expected Denel to be sold to "capitalist cronies" once it had collapsed. According to the memorandum, Denel potentially had billions of rands' worth of contracts that could be serviced, but the entity was unable to deliver on them because it had no operating capital. The memorandum said the DPE must re-capitalise Denel and provide "clear timelines" for when the funding would be made available. The union said it would not accept that Denel’s restructuring exercise be done at the expense of jobs. The memorandum was received by the deputy director-general at the DPE, Weekend Bangane. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24. Lees ook, Sowat R1,6 miljoen van Denel se bates opgeveil, by Maroela Media
Digital Vibes scandal leads to demotion for a year of two top health department officials City Press reports that the national Department of Health (DOH) has recommended that its suspended spokesperson Popo Maja and deputy director-general of health regulation and compliance Anban Pillay be demoted from their posts for a year. This follows a disciplinary process that probed their roles in the R150 million Digital Vibes communications contract that sunk former health minister Zweli Mkhize. Last Friday, the department, in a letter through the office of the State Attorney, informed the chairperson of the hearing, Advocate Pule Seleka SC, that the department had agreed with Pillay and Maja being sanctioned with “suitable alternatives, short of dismissal”. Seleka is expected to confirm the sanctions as a ruling. “Pillay will be demoted from deputy director-general to chief director responsible for overseeing state entities that fall within the national department of health and incidental responsibilities that will be communicated to him from time to time. The aforesaid demotion will ensue for 12 months from the date of his return from suspension,” State Attorney Sindi Gejengane indicated. She added: “Maja will be demoted from chief director to director for a period of 12 months from the date of outcome of the chairperson on sanction. Maja’s duties and responsibilities as director will be communicated to him by the director-general of the national department of health from time to time.” Maja will no longer be the spokesperson for the department. The recommendations of the department also advised that the official who had signed the Digital Vibes agreement, Shireen Pardesi, had already received an agreed sanction. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Setumo Stone at City Press (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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